Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Experts warn that as summer temperatures spike, so does gun violence
More than a quarter of this year’s mass shootings in the country happened in the summer, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. That includes the shooting in Fort Worth’s Como neighborhood where three people were killed at a block party before Independence Day. KERA’s Caroline Love reports.
Why are Houston police response times so slow?
A new report claims police response times in Houston are the slowest they’ve been in decades. On top of that, police presence in areas with higher rates of crime has also gone down. Houston Chronicle investigative reporter Mike Morris joins us with the details.
Threads, Bluesky come for Twitter’s crown
Elon Musk’s erratic leadership at Twitter has led to a number of similar apps challenging the app’s spot as the world’s town square – a place to go for bite-sized, up-to-the-minute content. Here with us to explain it all is our tech expert Omar Gallaga.
New Meow Wolf experience opening in Grapevine
A new immersive art experience called Meow Wolf is opening in Grapevine next week. KERA’s Michelle Aslam got an exclusive first-look tour of the exhibit … and got a little lost along the way.
Does Texas have anything to teach California about dealing with homelessness?
When it comes to policy, California doesn’t typically look to Texas for pointers. But more than a few California lawmakers have been traveling east to learn how Texans are dealing with the issues surrounding homelessness.
How TV sitcoms have reflected and shaped attitudes about LGBTQ life
The TV sitcom has touched on the LGBTQ experience for decades, to both the ire and applause from gay audiences. In a new book, author Matt Baume dives into key moments from sitcoms spanning over half a century. He joins us to discuss “Hi Honey, I’m Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials and the Queering of American Culture.“
Texas prisons to dump physical mail for scanned copies
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is planning to transition to a digital mail platform. Physical mail and letters will be sorted, scanned, and uploaded to tablets. Officials say the change will reduce contraband smuggled into Texas facilities, but advocates say this change cuts prisoners off from meaningful contact. Jennifer Toon with the Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance joins us with more.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
